The Aaron Chronicles

Chapter 1

            It was a beautiful day on the hills of Dray. The sun shone brightly chasing all the coldness of the winter away. A lone man was walking through the woods near a stream. He was seven feet tall and was very muscular from working on the farm. The man had short black hair and a well-trimmed goatee. His name was Aaron Dain. He wore all black down to the cloak around his neck. When he finally reached his destination, the Adhira River, he set his pack down and waded in the shallows of the river looking for something.

"Come on, I know you're here somewhere," Aaron said as he moved aside rocks. Finally after thirty minutes he found what he was looking for; a small gold gem. The gem was translucent and flawless with no facets in it. This was the tenth one he found that week. Aaron cleaned it off and placed it in his pouch. He told no one of his discovery, not even his mother. He didn't know what to do them, but he knew that he needed them.

It was getting late so he picked up his things and started home. On his way home, he noticed that the birds were not singing. Aaron looked around and saw nothing, but he knew that something was definitely wrong. Before he could take another step, a small dagger flew past his head lodging itself into a tree. Aaron quickly dropped his things and drew a sword from under his cloak. The sword was five feet long, double-edged and the blade glimmered in the sunset.

Three green-skinned creatures ran out of the woods facing Aaron. Goblins! He remembered his mother telling him about these small, savage creatures coming down from the hills and raiding the town when he was younger, but they hadn't done so for years. It looked like it was starting again. Standing only four feet tall these savage surrounded Aaron. One had a small knife, one had a stone axe and the third had a wooden spear.

When they saw Aaron standing there with his sword, they let out a loud howl and ran toward him. The one with the knife reached him first and took a swing that missed horribly. Aaron swung and severed the goblin's head off. The Goblin with the stone axe threw it at Aaron but the axe landed at Aaron's feet. Aaron picked up the axe and threw it back at the Goblin lodging the weapon deep into the creature's skull.

The third stayed out of reach from Aaron's sword. "Human...there is no stopping us. You will die just like the others," the Goblin said.

"Little vermin, I will crush you just like I did your friends," Aaron responded. Suddenly his right arm had a burning sensation. A bolt of fire came from his hand, went through the sword and incinerated the creature so there was nothing left of it. The flame also incinerated the other two.

Aaron sheathed his sword then looked at his arm wondering where the sensation had come from. He picked up his things and headed home.

Aaron arrived at home just before sunset. His mother, a tall woman herself with long golden hair done in a braid that hung over her shoulder, was waiting for him at the door. Her green eyes gleamed in what little sunlight there was. "I was beginning to worry my son."

"Mother when have I ever given you cause to worry?" Aaron said kissing her on the cheek.

"Oh let's see there was the time when you and Kelec were out playing in the abandoned mines, and..."

"All right, all right," Aaron said laughing.

"Come inside and wash up, I have dinner ready."

Their farm was one of the biggest in Dray. Located just outside the village limits the two of them grew everything from corn and beans to melons and pumpkins. They also had a variety of animals. The grocer and butcher were frequent visitors to the Dain farm. Aaron's father, who died when he was younger, built the farm into what it was today. He also built the two-story house that Aaron and his mother live in.